The Irish pair of Rory Best and Rob Kearney both look set for period on the sidelines after picking up hamstring injuries.

Ambitious Tommy Bowe is aiming to stake a claim to play at centre for Ireland, despite only just returning from a five-month injury lay-off.

Ireland prodigy Garry Ringrose is almost fighting fit, and looking forward to competing for a green shirt in the autumn internationals and 2018 Six Nations Championship.

England Women head coach Simon Middleton believes that the Red Roses' strength in depth has allowed them to enter tomorrow's World Cup final against New Zealand in the best possible shape.

Defending Six Nations champions England and 2016 Championship winners France will lock horns in the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup, after both booked their place in the last four on Thursday.

Ireland gave the Dublin crowd plenty to celebrate on the opening day of the Women's Rugby World Cup with a superb come-from-behind victory against Australia.

Home support will roar on Ireland this week as they start their World Cup campaign looking to improve on a superb fourth-placed finish in France three years ago.

Ireland back-row Claire Molloy admitted she was honoured after replacing the injured Niamh Briggs to skipper her country during their home Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 campaign.

Ireland's captain Niamh Briggs has vowed to return for the Six Nations next year after being ruled out of the Women's Rugby World Cup this month.

Former Ireland scrum-half and Grand Slam winner Tomas O'Leary has announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect.